Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool appeared near greatness final season however fell nicely quick within the ultimate two months, leaving Arne Slot a lot to work on for the brand new marketing campaign.
Whereas Liverpool confirmed they’d improved drastically on the 2022/23 season, April and Could’s shortcomings reminded followers that this squad is way from the completed product.
Slot nonetheless has a lot he can work on, and we had a take a look at some key statistics that might inform Liverpool the place they’ll get higher.
Challenges misplaced
Beneath Klopp, Liverpool turned recognized for profitable the ball again rapidly and excessive up the pitch, a trait Slot wish to retain throughout his tenure.
His gamers, although, must enhance on their efficiency final season if his ways are to work, because the Reds misplaced extra challenges than another Premier League group.
In line with FBref, they made 427 unsuccessful makes an attempt to problem a dribbling participant. As compared, Man Metropolis and Arsenal made the least unsuccessful challenges within the league, with 236 and 272 respectively.
Liverpool have been, nonetheless, ranked fourth for the variety of profitable tackles on dribblers and have been additionally spectacular in what number of passes they blocked.
They blocked 367 passes, greater than anybody else within the division, whereas Man Metropolis ranked nineteenth on this respect, indicating a barely totally different method to urgent and defending.
Probabilities went begging
Liverpool weren’t nice in entrance of objective final season. Whereas they scored 86 objectives, the third-most within the league, they need to have had extra if you happen to take a look at the numbers.
The Reds had the very best variety of anticipated objectives throughout the season, with 87.8 in comparison with Man Metropolis‘s 80.5, however have been worse at taking their possibilities than Pep Guardiola’s facet.
That is clear when observing that Man Metropolis ended up scoring 96 to Liverpool’s 86.
One other statistic that confirmed Liverpool’s lack of effectivity is that they have been ranked fifteenth for objectives per shot (0.09 objectives per shot). Arsenal and Man Metropolis each ranked within the high six in that regard.
Offside, once more
It’s not at all times the attacker’s fault when they’re caught offside, however there have been events final 12 months when it turned virtually a working joke at Anfield how usually Liverpool, and Darwin Nunez particularly, have been being flagged.
The Reds have been caught offside 100 instances within the Premier League final season, greater than another group, and Nunez was off greater than another participant, on 33 events.
Luis Diaz additionally turned susceptible to mistiming his runs, as he was referred to as offside 20 instances, the joint-sixth most within the high flight.
Cease going behind!
High groups are normally constructed on sturdy defences.
Liverpool weren’t horrible on the again throughout the 2023/24 marketing campaign however have been caught off guard far too usually, notably within the opening phases of video games.
The Reds trailed in 18 Premier League matches final season and, whereas they earned 28 factors from shedding positions – greater than another group – it merely shouldn’t be a sustainable apply.
When wanting on the very fundamental stats, it’s abundantly clear how Liverpool can start to match Man Metropolis; final season the Reds managed 10 clear sheets.
In the meantime, Man Metropolis managed 13 and Arsenal 18. Even Everton stored 13, three greater than Liverpool!
Defending crosses
This isn’t a statistic that essentially stands out as a weak spot however it’s one thing that Slot could wish to change.
Final season, simply 4.8 p.c of all of the crosses Liverpool confronted have been efficiently stopped by the Reds’ goalkeeper – the third-lowest share within the division.
As compared, Arsenal had the very best share, with their goalkeeper stopping 12.8 p.c of all their crosses confronted.
The moment conclusion to be drawn was that the Reds goalkeepers, normally Caoimhin Kelleher final season, have been poor within the air at claiming crosses.
Nonetheless, the fact is that Liverpool seemingly simply approached the defence of crosses in another way to Mikel Arteta’s group, with the Reds as a substitute selecting to utilise their defensive peak to get the ball clear.
With Virgil van Dijk marshalling the defence throughout the marketing campaign, Liverpool received the next share of aerial duels (56.9 p.c) than anybody else.
In distinction, Arsenal have been ranked eleventh and relied extra closely on David Raya, partially attributable to William Saliba’s weak spot within the air.
How’s your contact?
Liverpool’s gamers are technically good, however there have been events final season when Klopp and supporters would turn into exasperated as high quality gamers appeared to lose their contact.
In the meantime, Man Metropolis have been excellent, solely miscontrolling the ball 441 instances throughout their 38 league video games, 133 instances fewer than Liverpool.
The worst culprits for the Reds have been Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota, who miscontrolled the ball 3.68 instances per 90 minutes and three.31 instances, respectively.
We have to see enchancment there, this 12 months.
